Renualt Duster beats Mahindra Scorpio to become the No.1 SUV

Nithyanandh K, As a toddler, those wheeled machinery fascinated me even before I knew what they’re called as! So here I'm, petrolhead by birth, Mechanical engineer by qualification and automotive reporter by profession!

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Renault entered India in 2007 through a joint venture with Mahindra which went defunct in 2010. It was not until the launch of the Renault Duster did the French automaker gained recognition in India.

The compact crossover SUV has become a sensational hit and in fact it single handedly manages to keep Renault India in the front line. The Duster contributes to about 80% of the company’s total sales in India.

In the process, the mini SUV has dethroned the Mahindra Scorpio to become the best selling SUV in India. Business Standard reports that the Duster clocked over 6,300 units this March compared to Scorpio’s 4,700 units.

The Scorpio has been at the top of the table for quite sometime now but it’s been more than 4 years since the SUV got a refresh. Another interesting fact is that the Duster managed to snatch the supremacy in less than a year from its launch.

Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Sumit Sawhney, executive director, marketing and sales at Renault India, said: “The Duster is a very well accepted product in the market. This gives us the confidence for a better performance. We have made additions to the product which has helped us achieve incremental volumes”.

The SUV segment in India has grown at a rate of 52% last year with the Duster playing a major role. This year will see the introduction of the Ford EcoSport and Nissan’s version of Duster, resulting in a three pronged attack on the SUV segment.

Will the current situation force Mahindra to upgrade the Scorpio at the earliest?